Local & Regional

6:17 pm

Mon August 10, 2009

Welcome Home

Weatherford, OK – WEATHERFORD, Okla. (AP) The first of about 740 Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers have arrived home after a 10-month deployment to Kuwait and Iraq and participated in welcoming ceremonies.

About 140 of those soldiers from the Enid-based 45th Fires Brigade participated in a ceremony on Monday afternoon at Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Wellness Center.

The crowd of about 600 gave the soldiers a standing ovation as they entered the building. Many waved U.S. flags or held "welcome home" signs.

When the brigade commander told the soldiers they were dismissed, they cheered, then went to find their loved ones.

A similar ceremony was held at Altus High School. Other ceremonies are planned for Tuesday in Enid, Lawton, Duncan and Anadarko.